Digital Printing of Solid State Lithium Ion Batteries

Solid-state lithium-ion batteries promise to deliver the next generation of energy storage with necessary improvements in safety, energy density, and durability. However, their broad commercial success requires the development of scalable manufacturing processes to address fabrication challenges associated with composite electrodes, electrode/solid electrolyte interfaces, and thin solid electrolyte layers. In parallel with the need for innovation in solid-state battery fabrication, there is a rapid progress in the field of 3D printing of functional materials. Hence, there is now the opportunity to consider how additive manufacturing informs fabrication processes for solid-state lithium-ion batteries. Herein, the fabrication requirements of solid-state lithium-ion batteries are described and recent examples of digitally fabricated solid-state lithium-ion batteries, components, and materials are highlighted. A critical review of initial efforts toward 3D printing of solid-state lithium-ion batteries provides the prospective to identify future challenges and prospects.